Kevin Durant believes the Philadelphia 76ers have built enough offensive firepower to compete for the 2027 NBA championship after adding LeBron James to a roster already featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown.
Speaking at a USA Basketball event on Saturday, Durant compared Philadelphia’s star-heavy lineup to the Golden State Warriors teams he played on with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, noting the scoring talent assembled by the 76ers.
“The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on,” Durant said, via ESPN’s Ben Golliver. “They’ve got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, hell yeah, I think they’re going to be a contender. They’re going to be a fun team to watch. It’s going to be League Pass-worthy.”
The 76ers entered the 2026 offseason after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference at 45-37, but their roster changed dramatically. Philadelphia acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a trade that sent Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to Boston before signing James to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Brown averaged 28.7 points per game during the 2025-26 season, while Maxey and Embiid each averaged more than 25 points. Maxey posted 28.3 points and 6.6 assists in 70 games, earning All-NBA Third Team honors, while Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games.
James has reached the 25-point-per-game mark in 20 of his 23 NBA seasons, most recently averaging 25.7 points for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2023-24 season. At age 41, he joins Philadelphia with the opportunity to become the first player in NBA history to win championships with four different franchises.
Durant said he did not know James was considering Philadelphia before the decision became public but praised the move and its impact on league-wide attention.
“I didn’t know at all,” Durant said. “LeBron is stealth like that. I know there’s a lot of noise around him, but you never know what’s on his mind. I’m happy for him. It’s a great decision for him to go to a team that has a good chance to win.”
Philadelphia’s new core comes with significant championship expectations after the team was eliminated by the New York Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals. The 76ers lost that series 4-0, including a 144-114 defeat in Game 4, but their offseason additions reshaped the roster around Embiid’s health and elite scoring.
The projected starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid gives Philadelphia four players who averaged at least 25 points per game during in recent years. Durant said the combination should increase interest around the NBA.
“It’s great for the league,” Durant said. “There were so many eyes that were tuned in to his decision.”
The 76ers are now viewed among the favorites for the 2027 championship, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs according to oddsmakers. Philadelphia is seeking its first NBA title since 1983 after adding another veteran star to a roster built around immediate contention.
